Jon von Tetzchner Speaks Out Against AI in Browsers
Jon von Tetzchner, head of the Norwegian company Vivaldi Technologies, developer of the Vivaldi browser, has voiced strong criticism of efforts to integrate AI models directly into web browsers. In his view, the industry’s push to merge AI with everyday browsing has already gone too far.
AI in Browsers: The Growing Trend
Major players including Google, Microsoft, Mozilla, and Perplexity are racing to add AI functionality to their browsers. Meanwhile, companies without browsers of their own, such as Anthropic and OpenAI, are experimenting with extensions or developing standalone products.
Cybersecurity experts have repeatedly warned about the security and privacy risks of such integrations. Still, tech companies continue to promote AI-driven interactions where users type or speak natural language commands, and the model performs browsing tasks on their behalf.
Vivaldi’s Position: People Over Hype
In a blog post, von Tetzchner reiterated Vivaldi’s firm stance against embedding generative AI into its browser. He echoed concerns first raised by Vivaldi developer Julien Picalausa last year.
Von Tetzchner argues that generative AI in browsers dehumanizes and impoverishes the web, diverting traffic away from publishers and into chatbots.
“All this turns the address bar into just another prompt for an assistant, transforming the joy of exploration into passive observation,” he wrote. “We are taking a firm stand, choosing people over hype. Without exploration, the internet becomes much less interesting. Our curiosity is deprived of oxygen, and the diversity of the web dies.”
“Users Don’t Want It”
Speaking to The Register, von Tetzchner said that nearly all the users he talks to do not want AI in their browser.
“I’m not sure if this applies to the general public, but I think most people are wary of something that is constantly looking over their shoulder. And many systems, given how they are built today, do exactly that. The reason such systems are implemented is to collect information.”
He compared AI integration in browsers to social media algorithms, which determine what users see based on harvested personal data. By contrast, Vivaldi, he said, is committed to ensuring users retain control.
“If people want to use such AI services, they are easily accessible without being built into the browser. I believe the concept of building it into the browser is aimed at collecting information. That is not something we do as a company, and we don’t believe the web should be like that.”
Not Anti-AI, But Anti-Surveillance
Von Tetzchner clarified that he does not oppose AI in all contexts—Vivaldi itself uses AI for built-in translation. However, he stressed that using AI to mediate how people interact with the internet has a “purely negative effect.”
He also recounted a recent conversation with representatives from Perplexity, which, he said, underscored the philosophical divide:
“It was absolutely clear that we have completely different interests. We are not going for an IPO. We are not pressured by investors saying, ‘hey, you need to use something new because it will get you higher valuations.’”
A Different Vision of the Web
Von Tetzchner concluded by reaffirming Vivaldi’s mission:
“We will remain true to our identity, giving users full control and allowing them to use the browser in combination with any tools of their choice. Our goal is to create a powerful, personal, and private browser so you can explore the internet on your own terms. We will not turn exploration into passive consumption. We are fighting for a better web.”
